Beaufort Wind Scale

Developed in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort of England as a standardized description for weather observations including wind speed.
Beaufort Force Scale 0 1 2 3 4 5 Wind Speed1 Knots <1 1-3 4-6 7 - 10 11-16 17 - 21 MPH <1 1-3 4-7 8 - 12 13 - 18 19 - 24 WMO2 Description Calm Light Air Light Breeze Gentle Breeze Moderate Breeze Fresh Breeze Strong Breeze Wave3 Height (feet) 0 0.25 0.5 - 1 2-3 3 - 5 6-8 Appearance of Wind Effects1 On the Water Sea surface smooth and mirror-like Scaly ripples, no foam crests Small wavelets, crests glassy, no breaking Large wavelets, crests begin to break, scattered whitecaps Small waves becoming longer, numerous whitecaps Moderate waves taking longer form, many whitecaps, some spray Larger waves with whitecaps common, more spray Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind. Moderately high waves of greater length, edges of crests begin to break into spindrift, foam blown in streaks High waves, sea begins to roll, dense streaks of foam, spray may reduce visibility Very high waves with overhanging crests, sea white with densely blown foam, heavy rolling, lowered visibility Exceptionally high waves, foam patches cover sea, visibility more reduced Air filled with foam, sea completely white with driving spray, very reduced visibility On Land Calm, smoke rises vertically Smoke drift indicates wind direction, still wind vanes Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, vanes begin to move Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended Dust, leaves, loose paper lifted, small tree branches move Small trees in leaf begin to sway Larger tree branches moving, whistling in wires Whole trees moving, resistance felt walking against wind Whole trees in motion, resistance felt walking against wind Slight structural damage occurs, slate blows off roofs Seldom experienced on land, trees broken or uprooted, "considerable structural damage" Best for beginners Still easy Novices will experience weathercocking Good practice for intermediate paddlers Difficult for novices, may be challenging for intermediates Small craft warnings. Hard paddling into the wind. Following seas will result in surf rides. Rescues difficult. Experienced paddlers only. Very hard paddling into wind. Rescues very difficult. Headway very hard. Very difficult to turn/maneuver. Communication hard. Wind may rip paddle out of hand. Its every person for themselves. Rescues are virtually impossible. Survival paddling. Rescues are impossible.

Paddler Notes4

22 - 27

25 - 31

9-13

28 - 33

32 - 38

Near Gale

13-19

34-40

39-46

Gale

18-25

41-47

47-54

Strong Gale

23-32

10

48-55

55-63

Storm

29-41

Pray!!!

11

56-63 64 +

64-72 73 +

Violent Storm Hurricane

37-52 45 +

12
1

NOAA; 2 World Meteorological Organization; 3 http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/beaufort.html; 4 Sea Kayaking Rough Waters by Alex Matthews

Effect of Wind on Forward Progress

This table shows the effects of wind on cruising speed or speed made good. It is meant solely as a rough guide (from Sea Kayaking Rough Waters by Alex Matthews) .
Wind Speed 0 knots 5 knots 10 knots 15 knots 20 knots 25 knots Headwind Resistance 0 knots -0.5 knots -1 knots -1.5 knots -2 knots -3 knots Tailwind Assistance 0 knots 0 knots +1 knots +1.5 knots +2 knots +2.5 knots

For example, if a paddler who would normally travel at 3 knots has a headwind of 10 knots, the headwind resistance of -1 knot would reduce forward speed to 2 knots (speed made good).

Effect of Headwind on Paddling Speed and Time

The following table shows the effects of headwind on speed made good and travel time. It uses the general guidance from the table above and is meant solely as a rough guide (from Sea Kayaking Rough Waters by Alex Matthews).
Wind Speed Speed Made Good Time Paddling to Cover 6 Nautical Miles 2.4 hrs. 3 hrs. 4 hrs. 6 hrs. 12 hrs.

Based on 2.5 knot paddling speed 0 knots 2.5 0 = 2.5 knots 5 knots 2.5 0.5 = 2 knots 10 knots 2.5 1.0 = 1.5 knots 15 knots 2.5 1.5 = 1 knots 20 knots 2.5 2 = 0.5 knots Based on 3 knot paddling speed 0 knots 3 0 = 3 knots 5 knots 3 0.5 = 2.5 knots 10 knots 3 1.0 = 2 knots 15 knots 3 1.5 = 1.5 knots 20 knots 3 2 = 1 knots Based on 3.5 knot paddling speed 0 knots 3.5 0 = 3.5 knots 5 knots 3.5 0.5 = 3 knots 10 knots 3.5 1 = 2.5 knots 15 knots 3.5 1.5 = 2 knots 20 knots 3.5 2 = 1.5 knots

2 hrs. 2.4 hrs. 3 hrs. 4 hrs. 6 hrs.

1.7 hrs. 2 hrs. 2 hrs. 3 hrs. 4 hrs.

Question: Now that we can predict wind speed for any day we paddle by crossing an elephant with a rhinoceros, should you paddle slowly to conserve energy or paddle harder and pick up speed, if you have 6 miles to paddle back to camp and suddenly get hit by a 15 knot headwind? Hint: using the table above, figure the paddling time assuming a 2.5 knot paddle speed and then compare it to a paddling time using a 3.5 knot speed. Did You Know? 1 nautical mile = 1.2 miles; NOAA issues small craft advisories when wind waves are predicted to reach and sustain 4 feet or greater usually caused by winds of 18-33 knots. http://www.cs.rice.edu/~jnavarro/windsurfing/beaufort.html for good pics on Beaufort Scale.